Kampe wins 500th, Oakland tops North Dakota

By NOAH TRISTER, AP Sports Writer

Thursday, February 7, 2013

ROCHESTER, Mich. (AP) — Now Greg Kampe is in the 500-win club — no matter who’s doing the counting.

The Oakland coach officially reached the milestone Thursday night when the Golden Grizzlies outlasted North Dakota State 66-63. It was Kampe’s 500th victory according to the NCAA record book, although the school credits him with two more because of forfeits.

According to the school’s tally, Kampe reached 500 late last month.

“It’s just a bunch of crap, that’s all it is,” Kampe cracked afterward. “The first time it was a bunch of crap. It’s a bunch of crap today.”

Although he downplayed his win total, Kampe was in a good mood because of the way his team finished the game. Oakland (12-13, 7-4 Summit League) trailed 63-62 when Duke Mondy stole the ball from TrayVonn Wright and drove for the go-ahead basket with 20.2 seconds left. Mike Felt then missed an open 3-pointer for the Bison (18-6, 9-3), and although Wright rebounded, he fell down and was called for traveling.

Mondy made two free throws with 6.4 seconds remaining, and the Golden Grizzlies fouled intentionally to prevent a chance for a tying 3-pointer.

Kampe called three timeouts in the last 10 seconds to make sure this win didn’t slip away.

“I get laughed at, yelled at, screamed at because I never call timeout,” Kampe said. “My goal, when I die, is to take every timeout I’ve ever had into the coffin with me. The reason you don’t is so you can have them down the stretch.”

Travis Bader scored 23 points for the Golden Grizzlies. Lawrence Alexander had 21 to lead North Dakota State.

Kampe is in his 29th season as Oakland’s coach, and the Golden Grizzlies have finished in the top three in the Summit League standings for six straight seasons. They’re in fourth place right now but have won five of six.

The Bison were in a three-way tie for first before Thursday’s game, but they trailed by 10 early in the second half. Alexander helped bring North Dakota State back, and the Bison led 63-59 with 2:10 to play.

But Oakland made the final run. The Golden Grizzlies trailed by one when Bader missed a 3-pointer. The ball went out of bounds to the Bison with 40.1 seconds left.

Oakland didn’t foul right away, trying instead for a steal, and Mondy made one and was able to convert at the other end.

“We got a turnover, so we had numbers in transition,” Mondy said. “A guy ran out on me, and I took advantage of his closeout defense and penetrated.”

When Mondy put the Golden Grizzlies up by three with his free throws, Oakland then fouled Alexander with 1.9 seconds left, before he could attempt a 3-pointer. He missed the first free throw, and his attempt to miss the second on purpose caromed off the backboard for a violation.

“Those kids, they perfectly executed. There were 6 seconds to go. You don’t to foul at that time. You want to get below three,” Kampe said. “I think the chances of somebody making a 3 are 35 percent. I think the chances of them making a free throw, missing a free throw (and) getting a rebound are way less than 35 percent, so I will foul on any time like that. The question is how much time.”

Next up for the Golden Grizzlies is Saturday’s game against Nate Wolters and South Dakota State. Wolters scored 53 points Thursday against IPFW, the highest total in Division I this season — a distinction that previously belonged to Bader, who scored 47 against IUPUI on Jan. 24.

“I could have 1,000 wins, and I don’t think it’s going to help us against Nate Wolters on Saturday,” Kampe said. “He can’t do that two nights in a row, can he? We’ll just let him shoot. He’s got to miss.”